Beaded Net Curtains - yes, really!

Oh yes I did.  I finally got sick of looking at the grubby old nylon things hanging at the windows so I thought I should make some of my own.

 

These are based on my favourite stitch pattern, I've heard it called linen stitch, granite stitch, grit stitch...  in any case it creates a wonderfully floaty light fabric.  So I knew it would need some beads to hold it in place!

I had some left over Mill Hill beads in gold and lilac from other projects (about 3/4 of a pack of each).  I chose to add 3 or 4 beads every 3 or 4 rows, starting on row 11.  You can just about see them in the second pic!

For yarn, I picked up 2 skeins of my favourite yarn from the LYS in town - King Cole Bamboo Cotton 4 ply.  I used around 75g for each curtain.

Each curtain measures 14" width, 38" drop.

Pattern

You will need:

• 4.5mm hook
• 9mm hook
• small (0.6mm ish) hook for beading
• blocking equipment
• 2 skeins of 4ply cotton or cotton/bamboo or even wool if your heart desires!  I used a cotton/bamboo blend with 371m (400yd) per 100g

You will also need knowledge of the bead as you go technique (or if you have more patience than me you could pre-string the beads!)

1.  With the smaller hook, fsc 78 (or an even number of fsc to fit) (or ch an odd number, sc in 2nd ch from hook - to give an even number of sc), turn.  Change up to larger hook

2.  Ch1, *sc, ch1, sk1* across, sc in last 2, turn

3 - 10: Repeat row 2

11.  Repeat row 2 but add 3 or 4 randomly spaced beads to sc stitches on row, turn.

Continue in pattern:  3 plain rows, 1 beaded row until you reach the length you want.  After blocking, 2 rows will measure approx. 1".  So my curtains have 75 rows made on the larger hook for 36" length (excl ending loops).

You may choose to add more beads per row lower down.

Finishing rows:

Change back to the smaller (4.5mm) hook, ch1, work 1 sc in each sc and each ch across, turn.

Add a border of your choice - maybe in a contrasting colour.  I went for a simple loopy border of 9 chs evenly spaced with a bead in the fifth ch.  You could add a filet border, a pineapple border...  or even a border borrowed from a pretty shawl.

When the border is finished, fasten off and weave in ends.  Rejoin yarn in other side of fsc (smaller hook!).  Ch1, sc, *sc, ch3, sc in next, sc* across to end, sc if yo are left with an odd stitch.  Fasten off.

Wet block to size, hang and enjoy the morning sun catching the beads!